Barrier material for copper structures

ABSTRACT

A barrier material that is particularly suited as a barrier layer in copper interconnects structures found in semiconductor structures. The barrier layer contains one or more regions with one region containing at least 50 atom percent of a copper interface metal. The copper interface metal is selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, or alloys thereof. The barrier layer also contains a dielectric interface material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is directed to a barrier material and the method of making the same. The barrier material can be used as a barrier layer in integrated circuit structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In semiconductor integrated circuit devices barrier layers are used to minimize atomic migration of various elements from one layer to another. For example, barrier layers are used in conjunction with conductive materials, such as those used as interconnect devices or wiring layers. The conductive materials are generally isolated from other features of semiconductor integrated circuit devices by a dielectric material.

[0003] In damascene processing, the interconnect structure or wiring pattern is formed within grooves or other openings formed within a dielectric film. Using known techniques a photoresist material is used to define the wiring pattern. The patterned photoresist acts as a mask through which a pattern of the dielectric material is removed by a subtractive etch process such as plasma etching or reactive ion etching. The etched openings are used to define wiring patterns in the dielectric layer. These wiring patterns can extend from one surface of the dielectric layer to the other surface of the dielectric layer. Alternatively, the wiring patterns can be confined to a single layer, that is, not extend to the opposite surface of the dielectric layer. The wiring patterns are then filled with a metal using a filling technique such as electroplating, electroless plating, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or a combination thereof. Excess metal can then be removed by chemical mechanical polishing through a process known as planarization.

[0004] In the single damascene process, via openings are provided in the dielectric layer and filled with a conducting metal, which is often referred to as metallization, to provide electrical contact between layers of wiring levels. In the dual damascene process, the via openings and the wiring pattern openings are both provided in the dielectric layer before filling with the conducting metal. The dual damascene process can simplify the manufacturing process by eliminating some internal interfaces. Damascene processing followed by metallization is continued for each layer in the electronic component until the electronic device is completed.

[0005] Barrier layer films are needed between the dielectric material and the conductive material in order to prevent atoms of the conductive material from migrating into and at times through the dielectric material and into other active circuit device structures. Migration of conductive material in the device can cause inter-level or intra-level shorts through the dielectric material. Also, junction leakage may result, and threshold voltage (Vt) levels of the transistors formed within the substrate can shift. In some cases, device functionality can be destroyed.

[0006] Migration is a particular concern when copper is used as the conductive interconnect material because copper exhibits relatively high mobility in materials used in semiconductor structures. Yet, in spite of this problem, copper is a favored material for interconnects because of its superior conductivity. As a result, if copper is used as an interconnect structures, the copper needs to be confined with a barrier layer.

[0007] A barrier material conventionally used in conjunction with copper interconnect structures, is tantalum (Ta) and tantalum nitride (TaN). However, because these barrier materials are more reactive than copper, the formation of contaminating interfacial oxides can result in poor adhesion properties between the deposited copper layer and the barrier material. Due to the presence of the contaminating oxides, these conventional barrier materials usually require the deposition of a Cu seed layer prior to standard Cu electrodeposition in a Cu acid bath.

[0008] Other materials that can be used as barrier layer materials in conjunction with copper also exhibit shortcomings. For example, titanium nitride also exhibits poor atomic matching on certain atomic planes along the interface it forms with copper. Also, titanium is generally considered unsuitable for use as a barrier material, because titanium combines with copper to form an inter-metallic compound which lowers the conductivity of the copper film.

[0009] As a result of the various disadvantages of present barrier materials, there remains a need to develop new materials that one, adhere well to oxide and other dielectric films, two, are not easily contaminated with oxides, and/or three, provide for direct Cu electrodeposition without the need for a seed layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides a barrier material. The barrier material is particularly suited for use as a barrier layer in copper interconnects structures found in semiconductor structures. The barrier material of the invention comprises two or more regions with one region containing at least 50 atom percent of a copper interface metal. The barrier material of the invention can also comprise a gradient concentration of a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal. The copper interface metal is selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, or alloys thereof.

[0011] The barrier material also contains a region containing at least 50 atom percent of a dielectric interface material. The dielectric interface material is selected from tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, and tantalum nitride. Other dielectric materials can include alloys containing any combination of titanium, tantalum, tungsten, silicon, and nitrogen. In such applications, a region of the barrier material proximate to a dielectric contains at least 50 atom percent of a dielectric interface material, and a region of the barrier material proximate to a conducting material contains at least 50 atom percent of a copper interface metal.

[0012] The semiconductor structure of the invention comprises a dielectric layer disposed on an underlying layer and a barrier layer disposed on the dielectric layer. The barrier layer contains a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal. The barrier layer can also include a gradient atomic concentration of a copper interface metal with a relatively high atomic concentration of the copper interface metal proximate to a conducting material. The conducting material preferably contains copper or an alloy thereof.

[0013] The barrier layer of the invention contains a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal, wherein a surface of the barrier layer proximate to a conducting material contains at least 50 atom percent of the copper interface metal and an opposite surface of the barrier layer proximate to a dielectric contains at least 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material.

[0014] The barrier material can provide for direct Cu electrodeposition in standard Cu acid baths used in the microelectronic industry without the need for a seed layer.

[0015] The invention is also directed to a method of making a barrier layer comprising: a) providing a dielectric layer; b) depositing a dielectric interface material on the dielectric layer; and c) depositing a copper interface metal. The copper interface metal is deposited so as to provide a region of the barrier layer containing at least about 50 atom percent of the a copper interface metal. The depositing of a copper interface metal can also include the co-deposition of the dielectric interface material.

[0016] Alternatively, the barrier layer can be made by providing a dielectric layer, and co-depositing a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal on the dielectric layer. The copper interface metal can be deposited to provide a region of the barrier layer that contains at least about 50 atom percent of the a copper interface metal. Also, the dielectric interface material can be deposited to provide a region of the barrier layer that contains at least about 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will be better understood by reference to the Detailed Description of the Invention when taken together with the attached drawings, wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a barrier layer of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is an expanded cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of a barrier layer of the invention;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a barrier layer of the invention;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a conductive layer over the barrier layer of the invention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 cut along aa showing how a filled trench structure can be represented by one or more layers of different materials;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a SEM photograph of a cross-section of a damascene structure showing a tungsten/ruthenium barrier material of the invention; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a TEM photograph showing a copper-filled damascene structure with a tungsten/ruthenium barrier material of the invention; and

[0025]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a patterned conductive structure including the barrier layer of the invention in a non-damascene application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The barrier material of the invention contains a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal. The copper interface metal is selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof. The barrier material contains two or more regions with one region containing at least 50 atom percent, preferably at least 70 atom percent, more preferably at least 90 atom percent, of a copper interface metal. The barrier material of the invention can also contain a gradient concentration of a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal. The barrier material also contains a region with at least 50 atom percent, preferably at least 80 atom percent, of a dielectric interface material.

[0027] The barrier material can be used as a barrier layer, which is often used in damascene or non-damascene processing applications. The barrier material can provide for direct Cu electrodeposition in standard Cu acid baths used in the microelectronic industry without the need for a seed layer. In such applications, the barrier layer will have a region proximate to a dielectric material and an opposite region proximate to a copper structure, particularly a copper interconnect structure.

[0028]FIG. 1 shows a damascene opening 10 within dielectric layer 12 in contact with underlying layer 14. Underlying layer 14 may be any layer above which dielectric layer 12 is formed. In one embodiment, underlying layer 14 is a substrate material such as a silicon substrate commonly used in the semiconductor processing industry. In another embodiment, underlying layer 14 is a conductive layer wherein opening 10 is used to provide contact between a conductive layer to be formed within opening 10 and the conductive layer below. In another embodiment, underlying layer 14 can be dielectric layer, in which case the cross-section shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a damascene opening formed in a region where contact between two adjacent conductive layers is not made. If underlying layer 14 is a dielectric layer, the underlying layer can be the same as dielectric layer 12 or a second dielectric layer. Dielectric layer 12 can be any suitable dielectric layer used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry such as an oxide, e.g., silicon dioxide, nitride, silicon nitride, or an oxynitride layer. Low-k dielectric materials, e.g., SiLK® from Dow Chemical, Coral® from Novellus, Black Diamond® from Applied Materials and spin-on silicon-based dielectrics, can also be used. Dielectric layer 12 can be formed by any of various methods, including by chemical vapor deposition and spin-on techniques.

[0029] Opening 10 within dielectric layer 12, can be formed using conventional methods known in the semiconductor industry. As shown in FIG. 1, opening 10 is a two-tiered structure commonly referred to as a dual damascene opening. Opening 10 includes sidewalls 16 and bottom surface 18. Bottom surface 18 can be an upper surface of underlying layer 14. Alternatively, bottom surface 18 can be a surface of dielectric layer 12 or as shown, a surface of underlying layer 14. Barrier layer 20 is a barrier layer having a concentration gradient of a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal. Barrier layer 20 is formed on a top surface of dielectric film 12, and sidewalls 16 and bottom surface 18 of opening 10. As shown, barrier layer 20 does not completely fill opening 10.

[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to structures formed in dual damascene openings. Rather, the opening 10 can have various configurations such as vias, grooves, trenches or single damascene openings. Moreover, the invention is not to be limited to barrier layers disposed in an opening. For example, the barrier layer can be disposed over any structure including a flat planer dielectric layer.

[0031] 1. Barrier Layer with a Concentration Gradient.

[0032]FIG. 2 shows an expanded view of barrier layer 20 in contact with sidewall 16. It is to be understood that the same type of barrier layer described in FIG. 2 to sidewall 16 is also applicable to bottom surface 18. Barrier layer 20 contains a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal and includes a gradient composition of a copper interface metal or a gradient composition of the dielectric interface material along perpendicular direction 21. Alternatively, barrier layer 20 includes a gradient composition of a copper interface metal and a gradient composition of the dielectric interface material along perpendicular direction 21. As shown, the relative atomic concentration of a dielectric interface material within the barrier layer is preferably at a maximum in a region of the barrier layer adjacent to sidewall 16, i.e., proximate to dielectric layer 12, and decreases along perpendicular direction 21. As a result, the atomic percentage of a dielectric interface material in region 24 is greater than that in region 25 which, in turn is greater than that in region 26. Conversely, the total atomic concentration of the copper interface metal within barrier layer 20 can increase along direction 21. As a result, the total atomic concentration of the copper interface metal within barrier layer 20 is preferably at a relative minimum in region 24, is increased in region 25, and is maximized in region 26.

[0033] It is to be understood that regions 24, 25 and 26 are arbitrarily chosen to exhibit the gradient of relative atomic concentrations of the copper interface metal or the dielectric interface material within barrier layer 20, and is not intended to limit the barrier layer 20 of the invention to three distinct and distinguishable regions. For example, in one embodiment, the concentration gradient can be a relatively gradual and continuous concentration gradient with no discernable and distinct boundaries between regions.

[0034] Barrier layer 20 will have a thickness of from about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, a thickness from about 1 nm to about 25 nm, or a thickness from about 3 nm to about 15 nm. The thickness of barrier layer 20 depends upon the design specifications for the semiconductor device as well as its application.

[0035] One advantage of the barrier layer of the invention is that it exhibits an improved resistance to migration of copper into the dielectric layer. Also, the barrier layer is believed to provide a region that adheres relatively well to copper, and minimizes copper migration from a conducting layer to an adjacent layer. It is believed that the improved adhesion of the barrier layer to the conducting copper layer is achieved by reducing oxygen contamination at the copper/barrier interface. The copper is deposited by such means as electrodeposition, physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), or electroless deposition.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the barrier layer 20 with a concentration gradient along direction 21 can be formed in a PVD process using a single sputtering target containing the metals of barrier layer 20. The amounts of each respective metal contained in the sputtering target is dependent upon sputtering conditions, the gradient composition desired, and the type(s) of copper interface metals and dielectric interface materials used to form barrier layer 20. Regardless of the composition of the sputtering target, the produced barrier layer 20 has a relatively high atomic concentration of a dielectric interface material at a region proximate to dielectric layer 12, and an opposite region proximate to a copper conducting layer with a relatively high atomic concentration of a copper interface metal.

[0037] In another embodiment, the barrier layer 20 with a concentration gradient along direction 21 can be formed in a PVD process using at least two separate sputtering targets. A sputtering target containing a dielectric interface material and a sputtering target containing a copper interface metal are positioned within a deposition chamber. The power supplied to each of the respective targets is separately controlled. The amount of metal sputtered from each target is proportional to the amount of current or power supplied to the sputtering target. As a result, the desired atomic concentrations of the sputtering targets, controlled amounts of each respective target metal(s) are simultaneously sputtered onto the exposed substrate, thus producing a barrier layer containing both a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal.

[0038] A barrier layer of different concentration gradients of a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal can be produced by varying the relative power, amperage and/or voltage supplied to the sputtering targets. Deposition conditions are chosen so that a greater amount of a dielectric interface material is sputtered onto the exposed surfaces of a dielectric layer than the copper interface metal during the initial stages of the sputtering process. As the sputtering process continues, the power provided to the sputtering targets is adjusted so that relatively more of the copper interface metal is sputtered, and thus the atomic concentration of the copper interface metal increases in the barrier layer. The result of which is a barrier layer with a relatively high atomic concentration of a dielectric interface material in a region proximate to the dielectric layer. Conversely, the barrier layer has a relatively low atomic concentration of a copper interface metal in a region proximate to the dielectric layer. It is again to be emphasized that the three discrete layer sections of FIG. 2 are exemplary only, and FIG. 2 is provided to describe the barrier layer of the invention and to appreciate the invention.

[0039] In another embodiment, the barrier layer 20 with a concentration gradient along direction 21 as shown in FIG. 2, is formed using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Examples of CVD processes include plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), and metallo-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).

[0040] For each of the CVD deposition processes, the deposition conditions can be adjusted during the course of the deposition process so that again a barrier layer is provided with a relatively high atomic concentration of a dielectric interface material in a region proximate to a dielectric layer, and a relatively high atomic concentration of a copper interface metal in a region opposite the dielectric layer. For example, the CVD process can include an inlet gas containing a dielectric interface material and another inlet gas containing a copper interface metal. In the case of MOCVD, the deposition process may include an inlet gas containing a molecular precursor containing a dielectric interface material and another inlet gas containing a molecular precursor containing a copper interface metal. The relative flow rates of the two gasses and the temperature of the substrate can be varied during the deposition process to produce the barrier layer of the invention.

[0041] 2. Composite Barrier Layer.

[0042]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the barrier layer of the invention which can be described as an extreme case of the gradient concentration embodiments of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a composite barrier layer 30 containing a lower dielectric interface material region 32 and a separately formed, upper region 34 containing a copper interface metal. Barrier layer 30 is formed over dielectric layer 12, and also within damascene opening 10. This embodiment also provides the advantages achieved by the gradient composition embodiments as it provides a barrier layer 30 with a region proximate to a dielectric layer with a relatively high atomic concentration of a dielectric interface material, and a region opposite the dielectric layer with a relatively high atomic concentration of a copper interface metal. Region 32 and region 34 can each be formed using conventional methods such as PVD, CVD, ALD, and MOCVD.

[0043] The barrier layer 30 will have a thickness of from about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, from about 1 nm to about 25 nm, or from about 3 nm to about 15 nm. Region 32 can have a thickness 0.5 nm to about 90 nm, from about 1 nm to about 25 nm, or from about 3 nm to about 15 nm. Region 34 can have a thickness from about 0.5 nm to about 90 nm, from about 1 nm to about 25 nm, or from about 3 nm to about 15 nm.

[0044] One embodiment of the invention includes a barrier material that contains tungsten and ruthenium. The barrier layer can include an approximate three region layer best depicted by FIG. 2. The region proximate to the dielectric material will contain from about 90 to 100 atom percent tungsten. The region proximate to the conducting layer will contain from about 90 to 100 atom percent ruthenium. A transition region disposed between these two layers is also provided.

[0045] In another embodiment, a barrier material of the invention can approximate a two region barrier layer. For example, the barrier material shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a tungsten/ruthenium barrier material with about a 35 nm tungsten region proximate to the dielectric material and about a 5 nm ruthenium region proximate to the copper conducting layer (FIG. 7). The copper layer was electrodeposited without the need for a seed layer.

[0046] One advantage of using the barrier materials of the invention is that the conductive copper layer can be directly deposited, e.g., by standard electrodeposition, without the need for a seed layer. This provides a relatively simplified procedure to fill minimum dimension lines and vias with copper or an alloy thereof. The barrier materials also provides acceptable levels, and in some cases improved, interfacial adhesion of the copper conducting layer to the barrier material.

[0047]FIG. 4 shows conductive layer 22 disposed over a barrier layer 20. Conductive layer 22 can be formed by CVD, PVD, electrodeposition, electroplating or electroless plating processes. The conductive layer 22 deposited over barrier layer 20 of the invention can be formed of copper or an alloy thereof. Also, it is preferred that conductive layer 22 completely fill the remainder of opening 10 following deposition of barrier layer 20. By filling opening 10, it is meant that conductive layer 22 occupies that portion of opening 10 below the plane formed by an upper surface of dielectric layer 12.

[0048] In one embodiment, the semiconductor structure of the invention contains a barrier layer that comprises a gradient atomic concentration of the dielectric interface material with a relatively high atomic concentration of the dielectric material proximate to the dielectric layer. Preferably, the barrier layer contains a region proximate to the dielectric containing at least about 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material. Also, it is preferred that the barrier layer contain a region proximate to a conducting material with at least about 50 atom percent of the copper interface metal. The preferred conducting material is copper or an alloy thereof.

[0049] The barrier materials of the invention provide an electrodeposited copper conducting layer with less than 40% of Cu grains by volume having a (111) crystallographic orientation. In fact, in the majority of cases the barrier materials provide an electrodeposited copper conducting layer with less than 30% of Cu grains by volume having a (111) crystallographic orientation. Yet still, in some cases the barrier materials provide an electrodeposited copper conducting layer with less than 20% of Cu grains by volume having a (111) crystallographic orientation. The observation in crystallographic orientation is quite surprising because TaN/Ta barrier layers with a Cu seed layer normally contain an electrodeposited copper layer with at least 60% of Cu grains by volume having a (111) crystallographic orientation.

[0050] The degree of crystallographic orientation, or texture, is determined by x-ray diffraction techniques. A crystalline material may be arranged in a monolithic, single-crystal, structure or in a collection of many crystals or grains, usually between 0.1 μm and 10 μm in size. The relative orientation of the individual grains within the latter arrangement, defined as a polycrystalline material, can span the range from a random distribution to one in which the grains are highly correlated. The measure of the correlation of the relative orientation of the grains is referred to as texture.

[0051] The atomic arrangement within a grain follows a periodic structure based on a unit cell configuration, within which planes of atoms exist. In thin films, it is often important to determine the degree of texture of certain atomic planes that are parallel to the plane of the substrate. The close-packed planes, those which possess the greatest atomic density, in Cu are defined as (111). The texture of (111) grains greatly affects the properties of a polycrystalline Cu aggregate, such as mechanical stiffness and atomic diffusion. Several factors, such as deposition temperature and the deposition surface, can affect the resultant (111) texture in Cu films during its manufacture.

[0052] Through x-ray diffraction, the fraction of (111) grains in a polycrystalline Cu film that are oriented parallel to the substrate relative to a random distribution can be quantified. A brief description of an x-ray texture measurement is as follows. When a monochromatic x-ray beam impinges on the Cu film, diffracted intensity is produced and measured at specific orientations using an x-ray detector. The strength of the diffracted intensity can be correlated to the degree of texture in the film, which is tilted and rotated over a range of orientations. An analysis of the area of the (111) diffraction peak as a function of the tilt angle with respect to the substrate normal reveals the average cyrystallographic orientation within the Cu film. The fraction of Cu grains having a (111) crystallographic orientation is calculated by measuring the height and breadth of the (111) diffraction peak, after background subtraction and intensity normalization, about the tilt angle of zero. The fraction of Cu grains having a (111) crystallographic orientation can run from a minimum of 0% to a maximum of 100% by volume, corresponding to completely random texture to perfect (111) texture.

[0053] A semiconductor structure that includes a barrier layer of the invention will contain a copper interface metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof. The preferred copper interface metals are selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium.

[0054] The semiconductor structure that includes barrier layer of the invention will also contain a dielectric interface material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, rhenium, and rhenium silicides. The preferred dielectric interface material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten and a tungsten alloy.

[0055] The barrier material of the invention, though not necessary, can be used in conjunction with a seed layer. In such an embodiment, the conductive layer 22 is formed by electrodeposition using a seed layer disposed between barrier layer 20 and conductive layer 22. The seed can be formed using conventional CVD, PVD, or ALD methods known in the art or it may be formed using electroless plating processes. The seed layer is disposed over a top surface of barrier layer 20 and does not completely fill opening 10. The seed layer is preferably formed of copper.

[0056] The electroless copper plating processes that can be used to fill the damascene structure above the barrier material of the invention are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,997 and 5,846,598, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0057] The term “layer” as used herein is defined as a sequential arrangement of materials used in a composite structure that are arranged in any direction, and is not limited to flat, horizontal structures. For example, a trench filled with a sequential arrangement of materials is a composite structure defined by one or more layers. FIG. 5, which is a representation of FIG. 4 along cut aa, shows a layered composite structure of a trench formed from a dielectric layer 12 filled with a barrier layer 20 of the invention and a conducting layer 22.

[0058]FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a barrier layer 40 of the invention and a conductive layer 42 disposed over a dielectric layer 44 in a semiconductor structure utilizing non-damascene processing. The barrier layer 40 can be characterized as a gradient concentration barrier layer as shown and described in FIGS. 1 and 2, or as a barrier layer with upper and lower regions shown and described in FIG. 3. In this non-damascene structure, aluminum and nickel are the preferred conductive materials, though copper can also be used.

[0059] It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described. Rather, the barrier layer of the invention can be used in any application in which a barrier layer is needed. In addition to being disposed within a trench opening as is done with damascene processing, the barrier layer can be used in other applications as well. The barrier layer and the structures formed using the barrier layer, can be utilized in various semiconductor structures, and can be disposed over various substrates and materials used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

[0060] This invention will be better understood with reference to the following examples, which are intended to illustrate specific embodiments within the overall scope of the invention as claimed.

EXAMPLE 1

[0061] Barrier materials utilizing tungsten as the dielectric interface material and rhodium or palladium as the copper interface metal are prepared as follows. A dielectric material is placed in a PVD sputtering chamber. A layer of tungsten is deposited on the dielectric material, followed by a layer of palladium or rhodium. These materials are best described as two region barrier materials and are provided in Table 1. TABLE 1 Material W (nm) Pd (nm) Rh (nm) A 45 5 — B 45 — 5

EXAMPLE 2

[0062] Barrier materials utilizing tungsten as the dielectric interface material and rhodium or palladium as the copper interface metal are prepared as follows. A dielectric material is placed in a PVD sputtering chamber. A dual-deposition PVD sputtering procedure is used to deposit an alloyed barrier material containing tungsten and rhodium or palladium. The atomic percent of these metals in the barrier materials is controlled by adjustment of power supplied to each respective sputtering target. These materials are best described as a single region alloyed, barrier materials, and are provided in Table 2. TABLE 2 Material W (atom %) Pd (atom %) Rh (atom %) c 25 75 — d 15 85 — e 5 95 — f 25 — 75 g 15 — 85 h 5 — 95

EXAMPLE 3

[0063] Barrier materials utilizing tungsten as the dielectric interface material and rhodium or palladium as the copper interface metal are prepared as follows. A dielectric material is placed in a PVD sputtering chamber. Initially, tungsten is deposited on the dielectric material, followed by the co-deposition of tungsten and rhodium or palladium to form a transition region of the barrier layer. The atomic percent of these metals in the transition region is controlled by adjustment of power supplied to each respective sputtering target. The rhodium or palladium is then deposited on the transition region. These materials are best described as three-region barrier materials, and are provided in Table 3. TABLE 3 Material W (nm) W/Rh (nm) W/Pd (nm) Rh (nm) Pd (nm) i 20 10 — 20 — j 20 — 10 — 20 k 40  5 —  5 — l 40 —  5 —  5

EXAMPLE 4

[0064] Barrier materials utilizing tungsten as the dielectric interface material and rhodium or palladium as the copper interface metal are prepared as follows. A dielectric material is placed in a PVD sputtering chamber. Initially, tungsten is deposited on the dielectric material, followed by the co-deposition of rhodium or palladium using a dual-deposition procedure. The atomic percent of these metals in this region is controlled by adjustment of power supplied to each respective sputtering target. These materials are best described as two region barrier materials with tungsten as the dielectric interface material and tungsten/rhodium or tungsten/palladium alloys as the copper interface metal. The atomic percent of tungsten in the alloys is about 50%. These materials are provided in Table 4. TABLE 4 Material W (nm) W/RH (nm) W/Pd (nm) m 48 2 — n 48 — 2 o 49 1 — p 49 — 1 

In the claims:
 1. A semiconductor structure comprising: a dielectric layer disposed on an underlayer; and a barrier layer disposed on the dielectric layer, wherein the barrier layer comprises a dielectric interface material, and a region of the barrier layer proximate to a conducting layer comprises at least 50 atom percent of a copper interface metal.
 2. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the conducting layer comprises copper or an alloy thereof.
 3. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof.
 4. The semiconductor structure of claim 3 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium.
 5. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer is patterned to provide damascene or dual-damascene openings, the openings having sidewalls and a bottom surface in contact with the barrier layer.
 6. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the barrier layer comprises a region with a gradient atomic concentration of dielectric interface material.
 7. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the barrier layer includes a region proximate to the dielectric layer with at least 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material.
 8. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the dielectric interface material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, rhenium, and rhenium silicides.
 9. The semiconductor structure of claim 7 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the dielectric layer comprises at least 80 atom percent of the dielectric interface material.
 10. The semiconductor structure of claim 7 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 70 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 11. The semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 70 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 12. The semiconductor structure of claim 11 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 90 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 13. A semiconductor structure comprising: a dielectric layer disposed on an underlayer; a barrier layer disposed on the dielectric layer, wherein the barrier layer contains a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal, and a region of the barrier layer proximate to the dielectric layer comprises at least 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material; and a conducting layer containing copper or an alloy thereof, wherein a region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 50 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 14. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 70 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 15. The semiconductor structure of claim 14 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer comprises at least 90 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 16. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof.
 17. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium and palladium, and alloys thereof.
 18. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the dielectric layer comprises at least 80 atom percent of dielectric interface material.
 19. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the dielectric interface material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, and tantalum nitride.
 20. The semiconductor structure of claim 13 wherein the barrier layer comprises a region with a gradient atomic concentration of the copper interface metal and the dielectric interface material.
 21. A barrier layer comprising a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal, wherein a surface of the barrier layer proximate to a conducting material contains at least atom percent of the copper interface metal and an opposite surface of the barrier layer proximate to a dielectric contains at least 50 atom percent of the dielectric interface material.
 22. The barrier layer of claim 21 wherein the surface of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer contains at least 70 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 23. The barrier layer of claim 22 wherein the region of the barrier layer proximate to the conducting layer contains at least 90 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 24. The barrier layer of claim 21 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof.
 25. The barrier layer of claim 24 wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and alloys thereof.
 26. The barrier layer of claim 21 wherein the dielectric interface material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, rhenium, and rhenium silicides.
 27. The barrier layer of claim 21 further comprising a region with a gradient atomic concentration of the copper interface metal and the dielectric interface material.
 28. A semiconductor structure comprising: a dielectric layer disposed on an underlayer; a barrier layer disposed on the dielectric layer; and a copper conducting layer disposed on the barrier layer, wherein the copper conducting layer contains less than 40% copper grains by volume with a (111) crystallographic orientation.
 29. The semiconductor structure of claim 28, wherein the copper conducting layer contains less than 30% copper grains by volume with a (111) crystallographic orientation.
 30. The semiconductor structure of claim 29, wherein the copper conducting layer contains less than 20% copper grains by volume with a (111) crystallographic orientation.
 31. The semiconductor structure of claim 28, wherein the barrier layer comprises a copper interface metal selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, gold, platinum, iridium, selenium, tellurium, and alloys thereof.
 32. The semiconductor structure of claim 31, wherein the copper interface metal is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and alloys thereof.
 33. The semiconductor structure of claim 31, wherein the barrier layer further comprises a dielectric interface material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, tungsten nitride, titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, rhenium, and rhenium silicides.
 34. The semiconductor structure of claim 31, wherein the dielectric interface material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten and an alloy thereof.
 35. A method of making a barrier layer comprising: providing a dielectric; depositing a dielectric interface material on the dielectric to form a layer of dielectric interface material; and depositing a copper interface metal on the layer of dielectric interface material, wherein the barrier layer comprises a region with at least 50 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 36. The method of claim 35 wherein depositing the copper interface metal includes co-deposition of the dielectric interface material.
 37. A method of making a barrier layer comprising: providing a dielectric; and co-depositing a dielectric interface material and a copper interface metal on the dielectric, wherein the barrier layer comprises a region with at least 50 atom percent of the copper interface metal.
 38. The method of claim 37 wherein the co-depositing of the dielectric interface material and the copper interface metal provides a region of the barrier layer proximate to the dielectric with a concentration of the dielectric interface material of at least 50 atom percent. 